Author Topic: I got hosed on roof repair  (Read 4485 times)

dabighen

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I got hosed on roof repair
« on: July 25, 2021, 07:28:19 AM »
I am mobilized with the army right now, and my wife discovered a leaky roof.  We had discussed that if the repair is less than $5,000 we wouldnt try to file an I surance claim because that's the cost of the deductable.  When the guy came out to do the quote my wife mentioned this and magically the quote came in at $4,800.  She scheduled the work immediatly.  I cant be upset because she was the one with the leaky roof, but come to find out from talking with a roofer friend of mine, the work really should have been around $1,800.  Lessons learned...1)  never ever forecast how much you wmare willing to spend.  And 2) always I sister quotes have labor, materials, and contingency clearly broken put.  The work was just replacing boots and flashing around our sewer vents and chimneys.  I am still fuming I am having a hard time swallowing this.

Dicey

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Re: I got hosed on roof repair
« Reply #1 on: July 25, 2021, 07:30:21 AM »
Forgetting about it and moving on is far cheaper than a divorce.

Metalcat

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Re: I got hosed on roof repair
« Reply #2 on: July 25, 2021, 08:51:37 AM »
I agree. Does fuming actually change anything for you?

The money is spent, lesson learned, use this as a communication opportunity with your wife, and try to have a sense of humour about it.

Sibley

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Re: I got hosed on roof repair
« Reply #3 on: July 25, 2021, 10:04:31 AM »
You're fuming because your wife made a mistake.... while you're a deployed with the army, leaving her alone to handle the everything without assistance or frequently input from you.

At least as a single person I don't have to worry about someone giving me crap for being human and making mistakes. Sit down and think about your attitude, because it is not coming off as attractive.

dabighen

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Re: I got hosed on roof repair
« Reply #4 on: July 25, 2021, 10:28:13 AM »
You all are right, but as some clarification, I am not fuming at my wife but at a roofer that took advantage of someone with a leaky roof.  I think a reasonable company would have quoted labor materials and been more honest. 
« Last Edit: July 25, 2021, 10:31:38 AM by dabighen »

Sibley

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Re: I got hosed on roof repair
« Reply #5 on: July 25, 2021, 10:41:35 AM »
So post a review outing them. Be fair and give them credit if the work is done well, but if they're massively overcharging then they deserve to be called out.

Make sure you're correct though. If that $1800 quote is the friend's price, then it's way low.

Edit: and if the work hasn't been done yet, cancel with them.

PMG

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Re: I got hosed on roof repair
« Reply #6 on: July 25, 2021, 10:51:16 AM »
I thought by posting in this category and the tone of OPs post that they were venting but mostly in humor and shaming themselves for fun. I didn’t read any heavy rancor toward their wife or any plea for advice!  It’s just a tale that they learned from and are making the best of.

Metalcat

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Re: I got hosed on roof repair
« Reply #7 on: July 25, 2021, 11:15:13 AM »
I thought by posting in this category and the tone of OPs post that they were venting but mostly in humor and shaming themselves for fun. I didn’t read any heavy rancor toward their wife or any plea for advice!  It’s just a tale that they learned from and are making the best of.

I think the word "fuming" is what's making some people interpret significant hostility, but like the OP's post, some of the responses can be read with relaxed humour as well, like Dicey's and mine, or they could be read very seriously. They work either way.

OP is free to clarify if they are actually laughing at the situation or ragingly angry at their spouse.

dabighen

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Re: I got hosed on roof repair
« Reply #8 on: July 25, 2021, 11:22:18 AM »
I thought by posting in this category and the tone of OPs post that they were venting but mostly in humor and shaming themselves for fun. I didn’t read any heavy rancor toward their wife or any plea for advice!  It’s just a tale that they learned from and are making the best of.

I think the word "fuming" is what's making some people interpret significant hostility, but like the OP's post, some of the responses can be read with relaxed humour as well, like Dicey's and mine, or they could be read very seriously. They work either way.

OP is free to clarify if they are actually laughing at the situation or ragingly angry at their spouse.

I wouldnt say laughing or raging at my wife.  More like, we have been initiated into the hall of shame of frivolous spending.  Something we are very careful of typically.

Metalcat

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Re: I got hosed on roof repair
« Reply #9 on: July 25, 2021, 11:32:41 AM »
I thought by posting in this category and the tone of OPs post that they were venting but mostly in humor and shaming themselves for fun. I didn’t read any heavy rancor toward their wife or any plea for advice!  It’s just a tale that they learned from and are making the best of.

I think the word "fuming" is what's making some people interpret significant hostility, but like the OP's post, some of the responses can be read with relaxed humour as well, like Dicey's and mine, or they could be read very seriously. They work either way.

OP is free to clarify if they are actually laughing at the situation or ragingly angry at their spouse.

I wouldnt say laughing or raging at my wife.  More like, we have been initiated into the hall of shame of frivolous spending.  Something we are very careful of typically.

It's not really frivolous though, it's an honest mistake where your wife lacked the knowledge to prevent someone price gouging her.

It can happen to the best of us. Believe me, I've lost way more than a few thousand through stupid mistakes in my time.

rmorris50

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Re: I got hosed on roof repair
« Reply #10 on: July 25, 2021, 01:41:16 PM »
With as hot as everything is right now in all aspects of real estate, who knows if the $1800 is now too low or the $4800 is too high. I’ve had so much trouble finding someone to build me shed, and also trouble getting an interior designer to do some upgrades in my house.


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Loren Ver

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Re: I got hosed on roof repair
« Reply #11 on: July 25, 2021, 04:26:22 PM »
That's sucks!  Grr.  But then, sometimes you just need the freaking thing fixed now and correctly. 

Sure its great when you can get three quotes, compare prices and ratings then talk things out.  Once everyone is happy with the plan, go forth and get the work done. 

In this case, the roof got fixed,  ta da! 

Maybe it really did cost $4800, things are really expensive right now.  Maybe it was a cheaper fix and they over charged you but the company bumped your wife's job up on the priority list since it was a leaky roof and the company knew the right thing to do was to get that job to right away.  Maybe they just charged you the most they could get away with.

You will never know.  It's done.  High five for one less thing to worry about.  A leaky roof is not a fun thing to deal with.

Loren

calimom

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Re: I got hosed on roof repair
« Reply #12 on: July 26, 2021, 10:35:47 AM »
With as hot as everything is right now in all aspects of real estate, who knows if the $1800 is now too low or the $4800 is too high. I’ve had so much trouble finding someone to build me shed, and also trouble getting an interior designer to do some upgrades in my house.


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Exactly. We live in crazy times. The $4800 *may* have been a high-ball quote, but it was likely a take it or leave it situation by the roofer, who likely has more work than they know what to do with. If the problem got solved successfully, I wouldn't beat myself up over this.

401Killer

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Re: I got hosed on roof repair
« Reply #13 on: July 27, 2021, 01:45:02 PM »
The work was just replacing boots and flashing around our sewer vents and chimneys.

That's way, way too much money for that amount/type of work. Sucks it happened but like others said, try and not let it get under your skin for too long.

scottish

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Re: I got hosed on roof repair
« Reply #14 on: July 27, 2021, 07:50:50 PM »
Bummer, I had my whole roof done for just a bit more than that last summer.    We always try to get 2 or 3 quotes before proceeding...   but if water's pouring in, you gotta get it fixed fast.

Just Joe

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Re: I got hosed on roof repair
« Reply #15 on: August 02, 2021, 09:44:11 AM »
With as hot as everything is right now in all aspects of real estate, who knows if the $1800 is now too low or the $4800 is too high. I’ve had so much trouble finding someone to build me shed, and also trouble getting an interior designer to do some upgrades in my house.


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Exactly. We live in crazy times. The $4800 *may* have been a high-ball quote, but it was likely a take it or leave it situation by the roofer, who likely has more work than they know what to do with. If the problem got solved successfully, I wouldn't beat myself up over this.

The contractors may be so busy right now that they are paying overtime to keep up with their schedules. Don't let it damage your relationship with your DW. I remember guys telling marital war stories from time to time when I was in. Some wives were overwhelmed during deployments.
« Last Edit: August 02, 2021, 09:47:48 AM by Just Joe »

Villanelle

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Re: I got hosed on roof repair
« Reply #16 on: August 02, 2021, 10:06:50 AM »
I didn't read any anger toward the wife and I inferred the "fuming" to be toward the roofer.

Also, OP, I've been there.  I know how overwhelming it can be in the middle of a deployment when you have cascading problems and some of them are the things your spouse usually handles.  Even though you aren't thrilled with the expense or the roofer's behavior, reassure her that you are mostly just glad she took care of it.  She probably doesn't feel great about it either, and you fuming--even if you make it clear it is toward the roofer and not her---will likely just make her feel guilty and less capable.  Have a different plan for going forward, and stop mentioning it to her. 

yachi

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Re: I got hosed on roof repair
« Reply #17 on: August 06, 2021, 12:12:48 PM »
I am mobilized with the army right now, and my wife discovered a leaky roof.  We had discussed that if the repair is less than $5,000 we wouldnt try to file an I surance claim because that's the cost of the deductable.  When the guy came out to do the quote my wife mentioned this and magically the quote came in at $4,800.  She scheduled the work immediatly.  I cant be upset because she was the one with the leaky roof, but come to find out from talking with a roofer friend of mine, the work really should have been around $1,800.  Lessons learned...1)  never ever forecast how much you wmare willing to spend.  And 2) always I sister quotes have labor, materials, and contingency clearly broken put.  The work was just replacing boots and flashing around our sewer vents and chimneys.  I am still fuming I am having a hard time swallowing this.

I think you're lesson 1 is incorrect.  You didn't forecast how much you were willing to spend, you actually provided your estimate of the cost of repairs.  You let the contractor know that you would believe a cost in and around $5,000 would sound reasonable to you ("if it is more than $5k, we'll go through insurance, if it's less than $5k we'll go with cash "tells me you didn't know whether it should cost more or less than $5k), and the contractor took advantage of that.

Not all contractors will behave like this, but you don't want to be the first to offer pricing in any negotiation, specially one where you don't have the experience.

dabighen

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Re: I got hosed on roof repair
« Reply #18 on: August 08, 2021, 06:58:22 PM »
I didn't read any anger toward the wife and I inferred the "fuming" to be toward the roofer.

Also, OP, I've been there.  I know how overwhelming it can be in the middle of a deployment when you have cascading problems and some of them are the things your spouse usually handles.  Even though you aren't thrilled with the expense or the roofer's behavior, reassure her that you are mostly just glad she took care of it.  She probably doesn't feel great about it either, and you fuming--even if you make it clear it is toward the roofer and not her---will likely just make her feel guilty and less capable.  Have a different plan for going forward, and stop mentioning it to her.

Good perspective for sure.

Chris Pascale

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Re: I got hosed on roof repair
« Reply #19 on: August 10, 2021, 03:13:08 PM »
I am mobilized with the army right now, and my wife discovered a leaky roof.  We had discussed that if the repair is less than $5,000 we wouldnt try to file an I surance claim because that's the cost of the deductable.  When the guy came out to do the quote my wife mentioned this and magically the quote came in at $4,800.  She scheduled the work immediatly.  I cant be upset because she was the one with the leaky roof, but come to find out from talking with a roofer friend of mine, the work really should have been around $1,800.  Lessons learned...1)  never ever forecast how much you wmare willing to spend.  And 2) always I sister quotes have labor, materials, and contingency clearly broken put.  The work was just replacing boots and flashing around our sewer vents and chimneys.  I am still fuming I am having a hard time swallowing this.

Sorry this happened to you. Back in 2008 when re-enlistment bonuses were high I had a guy quote me on replacing my shower drain. He said $3,000, adding that he's "gonna have to really yank it."

On the yanking, I agreed, and let him know I'd be in touch after getting a few quotes.

His face dropped like I'd revealed that I knew the big secret - that other people can give me a quote.
« Last Edit: August 11, 2021, 12:29:38 PM by Chris Pascale »

BicycleB

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Re: I got hosed on roof repair
« Reply #20 on: August 13, 2021, 01:06:19 PM »
Just dropping in because I had my roof examined recently. Turned out not to be leaking, but I sympathize with you. One roofer can be quite different from another.

I think that for them, the money is primarily in getting jobs and finding customers who overpay. Rich roofers are rare roofers but get-rich-quick roofers are a plague that never dies.

BlueHouse

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Re: I got hosed on roof repair
« Reply #21 on: September 19, 2021, 02:40:04 PM »
Here's another thing to consider that may offset some of the anger:

A few years ago I wanted some roof work done that I considered minor, but all the estimates included more work than I wanted or were higher than I wanted.  After 3 estimates, I finally realized that I had lost more money in billable time than it would have cost to just get the entire roof recoated.  So that's what I did.  Did it need it?  probably not.  But it got done, I went back to work, and I really haven't thought about it again. 

So be sure to also factor in your wife's time spent dealing with all this stuff. 

If you're still not happy, write a negative review.   Or call the company and tell them you think your wife may have been overcharged.  Have them explain why it cost so much.  Shouldn't be a problem